Page 146 of The Immortal’s Mark

Once I know the level of crazy I’m dealing with, I can figure out how to survive it.

“Ah, here we are.” Adir claps once, and the door in front of us swings inward.

He moves past Bella, dismissing her continuing questions like she’s background noise.

I hesitate at the threshold.

Bella stands beside me, frozen as Adir strides into a room filled with more impossibly attractive people.

Lesser Immortals.

“What is this?” I whisper.

“I honestly don’t know,” she whispers back, chewing her bottom lip.

“Henry.” Adir’s voice cuts through the room.

I jump.

Henry steps forward. “My Lord?”

The occupants of the room turn curious gazes in my direction, their interest sharp and eager.

“Please escort Darcie to her chambers,” he orders with a dismissive wave of his hand. “I have business to attend to before we can get the change underway.”

“Of course.” Henry bows, then moves toward me. “Let’s go.”

Without waiting to see if I follow, he turns and walks down the hallway.

I have never wanted to punch someone so much in my life, but I drag my feet to follow the traitorous warlock. Anything to be free of the room’s unsettling stares.

I won’t lie and say I’m not relieved when Bella joins us.

We wind through a maze of corridors in the extravagant home. People stop and gape as I pass.

“Why are they staring?” I ask Bella, glaring at the red-haired woman who snickers behind her manicured fingers as I pass.

“They’ve heard all about you,” Bella murmurs. “And they’re curious.”

I can only imagine what they’ve heard. I pray it’s limited to my connection to Des and nothing else. I pray Adir hasn’t been spreading rumors about my abilities, turning me into some myth the rebellion covets.

“Bella?”

Dim brown eyes meet mine. “Yes?”

“Adir wasn’t serious earlier, was he?”

“About what?”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “The in-law stuff…he was just trying to mess with me. Right?

Bella opens her mouth⁠—

Henry cuts in first.

“You will be bound to Adir,” he says, voice flat and certain. His steps don’t slow. “Once you’re bonded, the brothers will not have access to you or your abilities.”

My stomach drops so fast I nearly vomit.